London, Apr 20 (ANI): English cricket officials and players have given glowing tributes to former England cricketer Mike Denness, who passed away on Friday at the age of 72 after fighting a long battle with cancer.

Paying tribute to Denness, who was the only Scotsman to captain the England team, retired English star Michael Vaughan described Denness as a "classy batsman and a lovely chap, the Mirror reports.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive David Collier praised Denness for his contributions to English cricket as a player, captain, match referee and administrator, adding that the board was happy to see him receive an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service to cricket in the recent New Year's Honours list.

Describing Denness as a lovely man, former England Test and one-day international cricketer Robert Key expressed his sadness at the player's passing, stating that Denness' legacy at county side Kent, where he also plays, can never be surpassed.

The report said that Denness had served as chairman of the Kent's cricket committee, was in the final week of his year as the club's president when he passed away.

According to the report, Denness, who was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1975 and was an honorary member of the Marylebone Cricket Club, had spent the vast majority of his career at Kent where he captained the county to six domestic trophies in the 1970s before finishing his playing career with Essex.